Adjustable staging



J.,A.HAGA'N. ADJUSTABLE STAGING.

(No Model)" Pateh ted Feb.

Nirnn 'TATES JOSEPH A. HAGAN, on JANEs ILLE, WISCONSIN.

ADJUSTAB LE STAGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,289, dated February 1, 1858.

Application filed April 6, 1897. Serial No. 630,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH A. HAGAN, of J anesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Staging; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable staging for use by painters, paperhangers, and decorators, and for all other purposes where adjustable staging or trestle-work is needed of a height not to exceed twenty feet.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end upright and a portion of the platform of my device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of my device. Fig. 3 is a detail.

In said drawings the same reference-numbers refer to identical parts throughout the several views.

My staging consists of two upright ends, each constructed in much-the same form as an ordinary ladder, and upon the standard of each of said ladders is slidingly or adjustably mounted a jack 2, which is connected to a standard 1 by means of the clasp 3, said clasp being attached rigidly to the jack 2, but passing loosely about the standard 1. The outer end of said clasp or the end upon the outside of the ladder is sufficiently extended 1 to provide for the reception of a roller 4,

(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) which is for the purpose of lessening friction which would occur at this point in the raising and lower mg of the jacks and the thereon-mounted platform were such rollers not provided.

For the purpose of making the jacks easy of adjustment the clasps by which they are affixed to the standards 1 must slide more or less loosely upon said standards and thereby some play is permitted between said jack and said standard, which it is desirable to eliminate when the staging is being used, and for this purpose an eccentric clamp 5 is placed in the clasp, which by throwing the handle of same up to the position shown the opposing sides of the jack and the standard are brought tightly together for the purpose aforesaid.

Upon the top end of said jacks rests a plat form, which is a skeleton frame composed of two longitudinal stringers 6, attached to- V gether by cross-bars 7, and upon which bars may be placed a board, or other convenient means upon which workmen may stand.

Where the ends of the stringers 6 meetthe upper ends of the jacks 2, an ear or clip 8 is attached to the stringer,which extends a short distance below the lower edge of said stringer and through which clip is formed a hole for the reception of the rod 9, and said rod also passes through the top end of each jack. Said clip 8 passes down on the inside of each jack, thus leaving them free for outward lateral movement, which becomes necessary when the platform is to be lowered, as the jacks must conform to the spread of the standards on which they slide, and for this reason also the extra length of the rod 9 is provided.

To hold the platform in the desired location, the jacks are each provided with a hook 10, which engages the rounds of the ladder, and as a matter of convenience a spring 11 is employed to throw said hook backward from an engaging position when the platform is being raised and lowered.

As a provision against longitudinal vibration I employ four braces 12, the upper end of each of which is attached to the stringers 6 and the lower end of each of which is at-.

tached to a jack, and to allow the necessary spread of said jacks hinges 13 or an equiva lent device is placed in said braces.

Handles 14. are placed upon the outside of the lower clasps 3 for the purpose of raising and lowering the platform.

For the purpose of widening laterally the base of my staging I provide a base broadening and equalizing device, which is constructed as follows: I attach a stirrup 15 to the bottom of each standard 1, into which stirrup is inserted an arm 16, extending out- -ward horizontally, and upon the outer end of the arm is placed another stirrup or its equivalent, through which is inserted a leg 18 in such a manner that it may be adjusted up or down and fixed at any desired adjustment for the purpose of conforming to any irregu larities of the ground upon which the staging isto be erected, as shown in Fig. 2, and which device renders my staging wholly secure against tipping over.

When the platform is at the top of the ladders, a load upon the platform is liable to cause a lateral swaying movement of the standards 1 and a consequent straining of the rounds where they enter said standards, and to overcome said swaying and the consequent strain upon the rounds and their becoming loose thereby I place under the rounds a bracket 17, which is attached to the standard and to the round by any usual means, but preferably by a rivet. This detail of construction is of much importance in my device, as it wholly obviates the difficulty which it is intended to obviate, and is neat in appearance and cheap of application.

Having thus described my device, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an adjustable staging, two upright ladders, each provided with an adjustable base broadening and equalizing device, in combination with sliding j acks'mounted upon said ladders, a platform adjustably mounted upon said jacks, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an adjustable staging, two upright ladders, bearing upon their lower end a base broadening and equalizing device, brackets attached to the standards and to the rounds of said ladders, in combination with a perpendicularly-adjustable platform, consisting of jacks slidingly mounted upon the standards of said ladders, and connected therewith by means of clasps, the rollers in said clasps, the eccentric clamp in the lower of said clasps, the horizontal platform loosely mounted upon said jacks, braces connecting said platform and jacks, all when constructed and operating substantially as shown and described.

3. In an adjustable staging a platform adjustably mounted upon jacks as shown, in combination with the upright ladders, containing brackets attached to the standards, and to the rounds of said ladder, said ladders bearing a base broadening and equalizing attachment, all when constructed, and operating as shown and described.

4. In an adjustable staging, platform-supporting jacks adjustably mounted upon uprights, means of securing the adjustment of said jacks to said uprights, a platform mounted upon said jacks by a laterally-adjustable attachment, hinged braces connecting said platform and said jacks, an eccentric clamp attached to said jacks, operating as specified, all when combined and operating substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH A. HAGAN.

Witnesses:

A. E. TANBERG, E. RAY INMAN. 

